Samsung throws in Skype in new LED TVs

Samsung first previewed their new line of LED TVs for the year 2010 at CES earlier last month, and among the many new-fangled features which Samsung touted was the ability for the TV To support Skype video calls, although a demonstration on the showfloor wasn’t really impressive due to the choppy video and stuttering audio. Still, it is a start, and we can expect full HD video calls in the next couple of years or so, eh? Back to reality for the moment though – Samsung and Skype have merged powers to deliver new Samsung LED 7000 and 8000 series models of 2010 high-definition televisions, where each unit will sport embedded Skype software that enables Skype users to make video and voice calls through the TVs. These new TVs are already available in South Korea, and expect them to hit the rest of the world sometime in the first half of the year.

Guess the regular HDTV is slowly but surely becoming a one-stop entertainment center for everyone in the living room. Both the Samsung LED 7000 and 8000 series televisions will sport Samsung’s free [email protected] service that enables one to access select online content. As long as you are hooked up to a decent Internet connection on your TV, you can also easily attach a FREETALK TV Camera for Samsung that is provided by In Store Solutions (ISS). The inclusion of this camera will make it possible to place and receive voice calls and High Quality Video calls. All voice calls will rely on Skype’s SILK audio codec that is capable of enabling super-wideband audio quality.

The use of TVs’ remote controls is required for consumers to create free Skype accounts, although we think a much more convenient method would be to come up with your account creation over the computer due to the presence of a computer keyboard and mouse that makes filling up online forms a whole lot faster and easier. After all, it is safe to say that most, if not all of us already have a Skype account, eh? Following that, log into your account and navigate via a simple Skype interface accessible on the televisions’ screens. All Skype video calls will be free as usual, while voice calls are between Skype users.